Apple is reportedly looking to boost iPhone 5c and iPhone 4S sales in India with a program through its merchants that would allow customers in the region to trade in their old smartphones towards the purchase of a new phone, reports Business Today (via Unwired View). The move is geared toward lowering the cost of Apple's cheaper iPhones for consumers in the country's emerging market, with eligible phones in the program including select BlackBerry and Android devices, as well as Apple's three-year-old iPhone 4.

Merchants participating in the program will get 2000 Rs commission per device, while customers can now pay 28 900 Rs ($463) instead of 41 900 Rs ($671) for iPhone 5C 16GB, and 18 500 Rs ($296) instead of 31 500 Rs ($504) for iPhone 4S.

Various reports of Apple pushing for growth in India have surfaced in the past few months, with Apple's India executives stating in August that the company was looking to grow in the region by building 100 exclusive standalone franchise stores in small markets. Notably, India does not have any Apple Retail Stores in its country; however a report in January 2012 stated that Apple was interested in building stores in the country after business regulations were eased. Apple was also pushing for 'significant growth' of its reseller network in India as reported last March.

Apple has also offered buyback programs through retail partners in India to lower pricing on the iPhone 4 in the past, although the new effort appears to be much more aggressive.

Furthermore, figures from research firm Canalys reported in August for Q2 2013 showed that India is now the third largest smartphone market in the world, with 129% growth in the region resulting in 9 million smartphone shipments during the quarter. Apple CEO Tim Cook also mentioned during the company’s Q3 2013 earnings call that iPhone sales in India had increased by 400% year-on-year, while the iPad posted double-digit growth in the region, highlighting the potential for future growth in the market.